KnownCarProblems2021 Kia Sorento Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 254 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Sorento, most often about the transmission (56% of complaints, typically around 64,500 miles). It is 12th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2021 Kia Sorento problems
Transmission
143 complaints · 56%Half of these problems showed up before 64,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost drive power temporarily. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with loss of transmission oil pump pressure. The dealer updated the transmission…
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. While driving approximately 40-50 MPH in fourth gear, the vehicle shuddered and decelerated to 30 MPH, then lost drive power. Additionally, the clutch made a flapping sound while in 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 8th gear. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled while the transmission was…
Engine
69 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that intermittently, the transmission was slipping. Additionally, the vehicle failed to go into standard mode. While driving, the vehicle lost motive power while driving at 15 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. There was an âsâ symbol…
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while accelerating from a complete stop and while driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle shuddered and hesitated to respond while the engine revved. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle made a…
Electrical
47 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 34,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear and stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact…
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving and coming to a complete stop, the auto start/stop feature failed to engage upon releasing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle manually. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring…
Other or unspecified
40 complaints · 16%Fuel system
24 complaints · 9%The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the contact noticed that the exhaust started to leak. The contact also stated that the engine was overheating. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was…
Speed control
13 complaints · 5%Driver assistance
11 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: warnings, adaptive cruise control, warning, automatic emergency braking.
Visibility and wipers
11 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: windshield, sun/moon roof assembly, defroster/defogger/hvac system.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v649000 (electrical system, visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, with the A/C activated, there was an abnormal…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2021 Kia Sorento recalls
Visibility and wipers: fan/motor
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiring harness and blower motor resistor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed january 23, 2026. Owners may contact kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc351. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning october 9, 2025.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 sorento vehicles. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed december 9, 2022. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc250.
Full defect summary
Kia motors, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 sorento and 2021-2023 k5 vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Equipment: trailer hitches
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed august 11, 2023. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc249.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 sorento, 2021-2022 sorento hybrid (hev), 2022-2023 sorento plug-in hybrid (phev), and 2017-2022 sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (pcb) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed july 21, 2021. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc214.
Full defect summary
Kia motor america (kia) is recalling certain 2021 sorento and 2021-2022 k5 vehicles equipped with 2.5l turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Questions about the 2021 Kia Sorento
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Sorento?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (143 complaints, typically around 64,500 miles); engine (69 complaints, typically around 30,000 miles); electrical (47 complaints, typically around 34,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Sorento have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 25, 2025 (visibility and wipers). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2021 a bad year for the Kia Sorento?
- It is 12th of 24 Sorento model years by number of complaints, with 254 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.